Review of Monster

Monster is a classic crime thriller anime from studio Madhouse from way back in 2004. The show follows Dr. Tenma, a brilliant Japanese surgeon in 90's Germany who risks his career to save a young boy dying from a bullet wound. Years later, he realizes the boy he saved was a prolific and genius serial killer named Johan. Tenma decides to leave everything behind to track down Johan and bring justice to those affected by his rampage. This is a long and slow burn, 74 episodes. It took me almost an entire year to finish this anime, slowly chipping away at it every once in awhile. But every time I sat down to watch, I couldn't keep my eyes away. Monster is one of the best and most suspenseful thriller animes I have ever seen.

Animation:
Animation isn't one of Monster's many selling points. Still, it is more than serviceable. Given than this is a 2004 anime, it's not gonna look as clean nor as "HD" as most anime these days. I believe it is styled to look older than what it is, given the show takes place in the 90s. It definitely has a 90s feel in terms of animation quality, where everything is hand-drawn, but at a lower resolution and a 4:3 aspect ratio. But hey, if you're into that old-school feel, you'll certainly have no issue with what is presented.

Sound and Art Style:
The art style here is extremely grim and dark, which more than perfectly suits the themes and moods that Monster is trying the capture. Don't go in here expecting something bright and colorful. The music is amazing, in my opinion. It adds so much suspense and eeriness and really enhances the atmosphere.

Characters:
Monster offers a massive cast with many storylines that converge as the show progresses. However, only a few characters are consistently followed throughout the show. These include our protagonists Dr. Tenma and Anna Liebert, and undeniably one of anime's greatest villains: Johan. Despite the huge cast though, there are only 2 women who get any screen time, Anna Liebert and Eva Heinemann, and only one of them is likeable (its Anna).

Dr. Tenma and Anna are more than loveable enough to root for, all in due to their strong moral resilience to the decrepit world around them. They don't interact with each other as much as you'd expect though, since most of the time they are caught up in their own separate storylines.

Johan, on the other hand, is perhaps my personal favorite anime villain. He gets progressively more and more terrifying as the show goes on. He is able to meticulously manipulate everyone around him to carry out his murders. His backstory is slowly revealed to us in the perfect manner such that we only ever slightly able to understand his motives and reasoning. Every step forward we get to understanding Johan, the light in the tunnel only moves backwards. You never know what he is planning on next, before it is too late.

There are plenty of other amazing side-characters as well, such as Grimmer and Lunge. Grimmer in particular is a fan favorite, but I think it's best to experience his arc blind.

Story:
The story of Monster is very complex, with many branching paths that converge together in the end. This can be hard to keep track of, but the show will repeat information plenty of times to make sure the viewer doesn't fall too far behind. The show features lots of disturbing subject matter, such as brainwashing, race violence, domestic abuse, and kidnapping, which are used to present powerful ethical questions and implications. There isn't much to discuss here without getting into spoilers. Just keep in mind that this is a slow burner that will reward your patience.

Overall:
Monster is an epic thriller that takes takes its time. It presents us with powerful ethical dilemmas that challenge out moral thinking. It has perhaps one of the greatest antagonists in anime history. I would strongly recommend this anime to everyone who loves crime stories and/or suspenseful thrillers.